On August 16, 2018, Montessori School Bali was full of red and white decorations, flags, and attire to celebrate the 73rd Independence Day of Indonesia.

This annual event is held to show students how Indonesians celebrate their national day. The students also learn about Indonesian history and the meaning of Indonesia’s independence proclamation of 1945.

The formal part of the ceremony gets underway.

This year we started the celebration with a flag-raising ceremony. Two of our students shared the role of MC, guiding the course of the ceremony. They introduced other students who read out the Proclamation text, raised the Indonesian flag, read the Pancasila, and also told us all some history of Indonesia’s Independence Day. All of the ceremonial officers carried out their duties well and were full of pride.

Preschool students having some Independence Day fun!

During the flag raising, the whole school sang the national anthem of Indonesia. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a group of students performed a medley of national and traditional songs from Indonesia: Hari Merdeka by H. Mutahar, Potong Bebek Angsa from Nusa Tenggara Timur, and Yamko Rambe Yamko from Papua.

Games fostered a sense of community and fun.

After the ceremony, students and teachers continued the celebrations by playing games. Preschool students took part in a flag race, spoon and ball race, and balloon games, while primary students played bola gotong (a ball game) and took part in a marble race, three-legged race, and a krupuk-eating competition, organised by students of the Adolescent Programme. The idea was to introduce some traditional Indonesian games to the students and also to create a sense of community, teamwork, and sportsmanship.